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LAWRENCE – Twenty-nine University of Kansas School of Law students contributed more than 3,373 hours of free legal services over the past year, earning a spot on KU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Roll.

Students prepared tax returns for low-income residents, represented the interests of children as court-appointed special advocates, helped clients expunge past criminal convictions and prepared guardianship petitions for families seeking to secure their adult children’s futures.

“KU Law students are committed to giving back to the community and making service part of their professional lives,” said Meredith Schnug, associate director of KU’s Legal Aid Clinic. “Through pro bono work, students also gain hands-on legal experience that enriches their education and better prepares them for practice.”

Pro bono work is defined as uncompensated, law-related work that benefits the public, such as through a nonprofit organization or government agency.

The following students completed 15 hours or more of pro bono service during the 2017-2018 academic year. Students are listed by name, graduation year and hometown:

Ashley Barnes, 2020, El Dorado

Vince Becraft, 2020, Seary, Arkansas

Nicholas Bjornson, 2018, Overland Park

Erik Blume, 2019, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Aaron Bowen, 2018, Kansas City, Missouri

Terra Brockman, 2020, Overland Park

Matthew Cohen, 2018, Streamwood, Illinois

Maria Davies, 2020, Lawrence

Katie Gilman, 2018, Wichita

Dukgi Goh, 2020, Los Angeles

Gabriella Guerena, 2018, El Paso, Texas

Traci Hagedorn, 2019, Topeka

David Hammack, 2018, Lawrence

Bradley Hook, 2018, Kansas City, Kansas

Helen Jacober Atkinson, 2018, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Andi Leuszler, 2020, Lenexa

Yuyang Lin, 2018, Quanzhou, China

Maslyn Locke, 2018, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Jacob Nemeroff, 2019, Marietta, Georgia

Mathew Petersen, 2018, Wichita

Spencer Phillips, 2020, Austin, Texas

Jessie Pringle, 2019, Chanute

Alexander Rindels, 2019, Edmond, Oklahoma

Kaylie Schmutz, 2018, Sedalia, Missouri

Brandi Spates, 2019, Waterloo, Iowa

Diana Stanley, 2020, Wichita

Joe Uhlman, 2018, Wichita

Tayler Vena, 2018, Overland Park

Samantha Yianitsas, 2018, Industry, Texas

In addition, 15 students were honored at graduation with Pro Bono Distinction for having completed 50 hours or more of pro bono service throughout their law school career:

Aaron Bowen

Nicholas Bjornson

Matthew Cohen

Katie Gilman

Gabriella Guerena

David Hammack

Bradley Hook

Helen Jacober Atkinson

Yuyang Lin

Maslyn Locke

Mathew Petersen

Kaylie Schmutz

Joe Uhlman

Tayler Vena

Samantha Yianitsas

Graduate Katie Gilman volunteered with the Douglas County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, mentoring a 9-year-old boy, attending all of his hearings, writing reports and more.

“It has been amazing to watch him grow and to see his case develop,” Gilman said. “I cannot wait for him to be adopted and out of the system.”

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The university's mission
is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries
that change the world. The KU News Service is the central public relations office for the Lawrence campus.